Kris is centre of attraction

Fleetwood U16 81 Tarleton 5

Impressive Fleetwood had to weather a 10-minute storm before Kris Phillips opened the scoring down the right.
The centre went on to score five tries, the best of which was a break from close his own try-line. Joe Birks scored the try of the game from a pass by full-back Grant Cowie. Centre Jamie Railton’s try was another highlight after Steve Preston won the race to a Tom Evans kick. In the second half, no.8 Adam Dawson bashed through four defenders for the first of his two tries.

Joel Reynolds scored two himself and broke through to send Preston away for a try. Flanker Danny Maher gathered on halfway and passed wide for to Tom Evans to outrun two defenders for a try. Tarleton’s strong pack forced Fleetwood to work hard and they did have spells of pressure, though their only reward was a pushover try.

Grant Cowie was the man of the match, while Joe Morgan had an excellent game at inside centre and Tom Hird and James Evans impressed. Fleetwood Squad: Birks, Cowie, Dawson, Evans J, Evans T, Foden, Hird, Kemp, Maher, Morgan, Phillips, Preston, Railton, Reynolds, Riley, Teale, White, Worthington.

Praise for new team on the block

THE new girls’ team at Fleetwood RUFC earned plenty of praise from their coach after their first ever match.
A touring Colwyn Bay Mermaids team proved far too strong winning 76-0, but the Fleetwood Foxes made a most encouraging start .

Despite facing a big Welsh squad in this 12-a-side match with no substitutes, Fleetwood put up a spirited fight.
Foxes captain Laura Armitstead made some great tackles as did Lancashire hooker Rhianne Murray, while fly-half Becky Eykin, a Fleetwood Sports College pupil, showed an impressive turn of pace. Fleetwood didn’t manage to score but went close on many occasions, none more so than Sarah Jackson from Hodgson High School.

Although the Foxes tired late on, they continued to play with diehard spirit. Coach Greg Hodgkinson said: “I am so proud of every one of the girls. They gave everything they had and more. “To keep getting up to fight on was truly unbelievable. It was like watching Rocky. They showed great heart in their first game and got fantastic support. The girls can’t wait for the next game.” Hopefully they will only have to wait until Sunday, when they are scheduled to entertain another touring side from Melbourne RFC in Derbyshire.

Depleted Scorpions in charge

Langworthy Reds 12-30 Blackpool Scorpions (U15) Scorpions arrived in Salford with only 13 fit players and gave a great account of themselves. Despite playing up the slope in the first half, Scorpions made the brighter start and good passing along the back line resulted in a try by Joe Bullock. Matt Hulme deputised well for the injured Matty Egan and captain Liam Wilkinson scored Scorpions’ second try. Scorpions then had to defend well before centre Zach Ward scooted over from dummy-half.

Ward then pounced on loose ball to send Omar Frederick charging down the left for another try as Scoprions led 24-0 at half-time. Like their hosts in the first half, Scorpions struggled to make the most of the slope and their backs-to-the-wall defence was finally broken. Wilkinson wrong-footed the defence for his second try before the Reds notched their second out wide to complete the scoring. Anthony Livingstone converted all five Scorpions tries.

Blackpool Scorpions (U15) 16-30 Orrell St James

SCORPIONS were lacking in numbers from this fixture switched from Wigan to Blackpool and deserve a lot of credit for their performance. Their bright start was rewarded when prop John Beattie made a break and Anthony Livingstone to go over in the corner before converting himself. An Orrell try went unconverted, meaning Scorpions still led 6-4.
Players’ man of the match Zach Ward forced a mistake from the restart but Orrell still scored again. But Scorpions were back in front 12-10 at half-time after Liam Wilkinson’s try from a quick play-the-ball was improved by Livingstone.
Wing Adam Butcher squeezed in at the corner to stretch their lead but a lack of replacements forced Scorpions players to move out of position, with prop Matty Cotton making some great tackles as a winger.

Josh Shearman, Matt Hulme, Matty Egan, Omar Frederick, Joe Bullock, Tom Drury and Tom Wainwright all imprressed but fatigue set in and Orrell finish as worthy winners.

Email us and tell us about your stories!